Deputies found Desmond Brown shortly before noon in the 2000 block of Rue Racine. Authorities said the mother of the child was frantic when she called 911 at about 11 a.m. Wednesday saying she thought her son was dead.

Neighbors said the woman, identified as 34-year-old Lakeshia Brown, is a caring mother with a kind heart.

"Every time you see her, you see her with her baby. She was outside playing with him or whatever," said Nicole Anderson who lives across the street from Brown. "Every time you see her she had a smile on her face. She's a friendly person."

Brown told 911 operators she found Desmond Brown lying on the floor not breathing and was requesting police and EMS.

When officers arrived, they realized the mother was locked inside the home because she couldn't find a key to get out. She was forced to crawl out of a front bedroom window to meet them.

Officers had to crawl through the same bedroom window to get into the home because the front door was secured by an iron gate. Once inside, they found Desmond’s body lying on the sofa in the living room. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

Deputies also reported a strong smell of gasoline permeating through the inside of the home. They found two gasoline containers in the alley beside the home.

"We're not sure at this time who the suspects are or whether there were intentions to set the house on fire," Col. John Fortunato said.

The child’s death is being investigated as a homicide.

Deputies say there were some minor marks or injuries on the child's body, but nothing to indicate his injuries were the cause of his death.

Fire investigators were called to the scene to investigate a possible arson. The child's mother was taken in for questioning but deputies said she is not a suspect in this incident.

Anyone with information in this matter is asked to contact the Homicide Division at 504-364-5300 or Crimestoppers.